with $100k coming in, swapping out of Gainesville

change
Pensacola, FL cityscape

next stop after gainesville

Pensacola

fl · metro 530k

photo: Viktoria B. / pexels

a dispatch from

pensacola

FL

30.42°N

87.22°W

Pensacola is the Blue Angels' home base (you can watch their practices for free at the National Naval Aviation Museum), with sugar-white sand beaches on the Gulf and a charming historic district that goes back to the Spanish. It's the western-most Florida city, closer to New Orleans than to Miami in feel. Affordable, sunny, and serious about seafood.

metro530k

in our guides

#4

of 10

Affordable cities for outdoor lovers

read the guide
#6

of 10

Sunniest affordable US cities

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best mid-sized US cities

read the guide
#6

of 10

Affordable cities to escape the cold

read the guide
#2

of 10

Low-tax cities with great weather

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities to leave San Francisco for

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best cities in states with no income tax

read the guide
#7

of 10

Best cities to leave Chicago for

read the guide
#10

of 10

Best cities to live in the South

read the guide
#4

of 10

Best affordable coastal cities

read the guide
#9

of 10

Best cities on the East Coast

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities to live in Florida

read the guide
#9

of 10

Best cities for a $150k salary

read the guide
#6

of 10

Best cities for a $200k salary

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities to leave Miami for

read the guide
#8

of 10

Best cities to live in the Southeast

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best cities for snowbirds

read the guide
#4

of 10

Affordable alternatives to Miami

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best affordable coastal cities for families

read the guide
#5

of 10

Best warm affordable coastal cities

read the guide
#3

of 10

Best cities to leave San Diego for

read the guide

01 · the verdict

the verdict

$107

the monthly premium over Gainesville

Barely costlier than Gainesville. If Pensacola pulls you in, it's the life it offers, not the price tag.
landable, recorded on the pensacola entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,752/mo

7% more expensive than Gainesville(vs $1,645/mo)

02state income tax

0%

vs 0% in Gainesville

03after rent

$6,581/mo

$107 less than Gainesville

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$303k

4% cheaper than Gainesville

vs $317k in Gainesville

05metro size

530k

vs 350k in Gainesville

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

226

pleasant days a year, in pensacola.

Gainesville only logs 206 pleasant days.

A month here packs 8.7× the events of Gainesville.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

69/100

10% higher than Gainesville

vs 63/100 in Gainesville

Closest outdoor draw: Gulf Islands National Seashore, 6.9 mi.

·walk score®

64/100

30% lower than Gainesville

vs 91/100 in Gainesville

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

11

120% more than Gainesville

vs 5 nonstops in Gainesville

04 · see also

same energy as pensacola, different zip code:

see also

eugene

better park access

turn the page

see also

daytona beach

similar overall lifestyle

turn the page

see also

greenville

more things to do

turn the page

compare pensacola with:

EugeneDaytona BeachGreenville